Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Residents with shingles...

What is your facility's policy on precautions when a resident ends up with shingles? Contact precautions? How long do you keep them on precautions?

I'm currently taking care of a resident who was diagnosed with shingles in her eye two weeks ago. She's been on precautions and basically quarantined to her room since that time. Some of the staff is going a little overboard by wearing a gown, gloves, and a mask. One nurse told me she was having the CNAs place her meal tray in a plastic bag before removing it from the room! Her blisters have come and gone and her lesions are dry and crusted over. She has been scratching at her rash at times and does have one open sore on her forehead. One nurse wouldn't allow the resident out of her room because she has the sore and had previously scratched at her rash and caused bleeding. My DON thinks that the resident needs to remain quarantined because it's been reported that she's picked at the scabs and had some bleeding. Per the CDC once the blisters have crusted over she is no longer contagious... This poor woman has only been allowed to leave her room twice for appt in the past two weeks!

Also, I know watery eyes is a symptom associated with shingles in the eye but has anyone seen the eye have a sero-sang drainage?! And would that watery discharge have the herpes virus in it?

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    Our facility policy is that once antivirals have been started (2 doses I think?) and the lesions have crusted over they are no longer quarantined. I have no idea about the eye, but 2 weeks isolation is quite excessive for shingles in my experience. We also just use contact precautions, and of course make sure that staff that are pregnant or that have never had chicken pox are not assigned to the resident.

  • Quote

    I'm assuming one of those appointments was to see the doctor for her shingles? I hope so...shingles in the eyes can be nasty and lead to long term effects. The MD can write for an antiviral (probably too late now).

  • Quote

    I am dealing with this now...shingles near/in the eye & debating whether staff need to wear masks d/t virus spread through the air? We have always used contact isolation but now this is coming into question.

  • Quote
    • Author

    It's contact, not airborne. A mask shouldn't be needed..

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.